Honeydripper - Preview
Preview by Jack Foley
ACCLAIMED American filmmaker John Sayles explores the birth of rock ‘n’ roll in his latest film Honeydripper, which is poised to make its way into UK cinemas this May.
Set in Alabama, 1950, the film picks up on a make or break weekend for Tyrone Purvis (Danny Glover), the proprietor of the Honeydripper Lounge. Deep in debt, Tyrone is desperate to bring back the crowds that used to come to his place. So, he decides to lay off his long-time blues singer Bertha Mae and announces that he’s hired a famous guitar player, Guitar Sam, for a one night only gig in order to save the club.
Into town drifts Sonny Blake (Gary Clark Jr), a young man with nothing to his name but big dreams and the guitar case in his hand. Rejected by Tyrone when he applies to play at the Honeydripper, he is intercepted by the corrupt local Sheriff, arrested for vagrancy and rented out as an unpaid cotton picker to the highest bidder.
But when Tyron’s ace-in-the-hole fails to materialize at the train station, his desperation leads him back to Sonny and the strange, wire-dangling object in his guitar case. The Honeydripper lounge is all set to play its part in rock n’ roll history.
Aside from Glover and newcomer Clark Jr, Honeydripper boasts a stellar cast including Charles S. Dutton, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Stacy Keach, Mary Steenburgen, Yaya DaCosta and Sean Patrick Thomas; as well as such notable musicians as Keb’ Mo’ and Dr. Mable John.
It’s well worth keeping an eye on for several reasons: the emergence of a major new guitar talent in Clark Jr, some vintage acting from the likes of Glover, Dutton and Albert Hall, and a fascinating insight into a forgotten part of rock ‘n’ roll.
Sayles, for his part, states of the film: “A lot of ink has been spilled by music writers about what deserves to be considered ‘the first rock ‘n’ roll song’. I’ve always felt that the beginning of any new spirit or style in the world – in arts, sports, religion, politics – makes for an interesting story.
“Who jumps aboard the new thing right away and who decides, no thanks, I’m sticking with what I know. What is the cost when you make either decision?”
Sayles – the veteran director of classic films such as Eight Men Out and Lone Star – maintains that the era of musicians depicted in Honeydripper is quite often overlooked in favour of the more prominent stars of the time, such as Elvis Presley and co. But by shining his own, distinct light into that part of rock ‘n’ roll history, he has crafted another fascinating and engrossing movie that underlines his status as one of America’s most interesting [and influential] filmmakers.
Look out, too, for the Honeydripper All Star Band, comprised of several performers from the movie, who could soon be touring Europe in support of the film. They’ve already featured at several US music festivals to widespread acclaim.
Honeydripper opens in UK cinemas on May 9, 2008.